Stories of Technology, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship in the Southeast

From Atlanta, GA:

Global Atlanta reports that Mercedes-Benz North America has signed a lease on a space that will become its new research and development center in West Midtown, making good on a commitment to bringing a new tech hub as part of an ongoing consolidation into metro Atlanta.

The German automaker moved from its U.S. headquarters in New Jersey to Sandy Springs in 2018. The success of that move prompted an announcement in May that the company would relocate another 500 employees here, mainly corporate and finance roles from Michigan, to create a base for the entire North American region.

Last week, the company confirmed that it had signed a lease on a 60,000-square-foot space at Northyards, originally a Southern Railway train maintenance facility built in 1925. The historic six-building complex, which includes a 1911 roundhouse, was converted into creative office space in the early 2000s.

Mercedes-Benz says it will spend $34 million on a buildout to be managed by North Avenue Partners and designed by Goree + Abel architects. The space is set to open by summer 2026.

From Lakeland, FL:

About two years ago, Nathan Boyd joined forces with Arnold Schumann — a frequent research collaborator — to form EZ Ag Innovations (EZ-AI). Boyd is the President, Schumann is the company’s Chief Scientific Officer, and Martyn Ballestero is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

EZ-AI technology – which is patented and licensed by the University of Florida – can help growers spray only weeds and minimize damage to surrounding crops, including strawberries and tomatoes.

“We are committed to working with growers and helping them be successful,” Boyd said. “We believe food security is important to national security, and we want to be part of the solution. Our targeted spray systems apply pesticides only where they are needed and will lower costs for growers.”

To do so, the EZ-AI team has already started asking growers what they want, to make sure they build technology that addresses their needs. Then, they’ll demonstrate the technology on farms so growers can use it and provide clear, reliable data on the benefits, costs, and return on investment.

From Jackson, MS:

Jewel Burks Solomon, Managing Partner at Collab Capital, a $125 million-plus early-stage venture capital firm launched to fund founders driving innovation across critical sectors: economic mobility, care access, and community infrastructure, will keynote next week’s Accelerate Mississippi conference in Jackson.

The event starts on November 10 with an invitation-only dinner and continues through November 11 and 12. Details can be found here.

Prior to leading Collab Capital, Jewel was Head of Google for Startups US, where she created initiatives that have deployed more than $50 million in non-dilutive capital to 500+ businesses since 2020. Her passion for leveling the playing field in the innovation ecosystem was born from her own experience. Jewel was the Founder and CEO of Partpic, an artificial intelligence (AI) start-up that was acquired by Amazon in 2016. The company streamlined the purchase of maintenance and repair parts using computer vision technology.

From Tampa, FL:

Sotereon.AI, a leader in AI-powered spatial intelligence and telemetry platforms, has announced the opening of a new office in Tampa, FL, embedded within its strategic development partner, Tampa International Airport. The expansion marks a significant milestone in the company’s growth and supports rising demand for the Sotereon.AI Overwatch^TM platform, which provides real-time situational awareness and data intelligence across transportation, logistics, and critical infrastructure sectors.

“Tampa Bay is quickly emerging as one of the country’s most dynamic technology corridors,” said Patrick Blattner, CEO of Sotereon.AI. “By embedding with the airport’s operational teams on a day-to-day basis, our product development timeline will accelerate, and our product market fit will be immediate. Being on-site allows us to innovate in real time with our partners—advancing how airports operate and how cities move.”

Sotereon.AI’s move to Tampa underscores its commitment to building the future of intelligent infrastructure and strengthens its presence in a region known for rapid growth in AI, cybersecurity, fintech, health tech, and spatial intelligence. Tampa Bay’s collaborative innovation ecosystem, strong talent pipeline from area universities, and welcoming business community were key factors in the company’s expansion decision.

The new Tampa office positions Sotereon.AI at the center of collaboration opportunities with airports, ports, defense contractors, and smart city projects pursuing next-generation data and AI solutions.

From Durham, NC:

The (Durham) Chronicle reports that Durham County welcomed its 2025 Innovate Durham cohort, who will take part in a four-month entrepreneurship program to test new ideas and products.

Innovate Durham, launched in 2017 as a partnership between the City of Durham and Durham County, aims to bring together local businesses, nonprofits, and start-ups with county departments to help them gain access to facilities and data to spur innovation in the city.

“We’re looking for companies … [that have] an aim or a clear mission with their company or a product,” said Lyndsay Gavin, Innovation Manager for the City of Durham. “It’s also probably not beneficial for them if they’re too established . . . they’ve got to be somewhere in the middle.”

According to Sabria Futrell, Economic Development Coordinator for Durham County, the county is pursuing services that emphasize “social impact” and “community-centered innovation.” She noted that the benefits of Innovate Durham for companies include having the opportunity to do a scope of reference, getting hands-on community knowledge from several people who work in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and getting a bird’s eye view of how to conduct business with the government.

Unlike previous years, when the county and city jointly ran the program, Innovate Durham this year is organized by Durham County and Forward Cities — a nonprofit organization helping local communities sustain entrepreneurial ecosystems.

From the State of Alabama:

256 Today reports that the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Auburn University, and the University of Alabama (UA) are sharing $4.7 million in grants from the Alabama Research and Development Enhancement Fund. The 11 grants will go toward research into challenges facing businesses and governments, including how to increase agricultural production, reduce pollution, build more resilient infrastructure, and improve wireless communications.

The majority of the funding went to HudsonAlpha ($2,248,371) and UA ($2,219,957).

In making the announcements, Governor Kay Ivey said, “Researchers at these institutions have a track record of forging innovations that improve people’s lives in Alabama and beyond. Their far-reaching research impacts everything from the next wave of technology to the conservation of our forests. I am proud to support this important and pioneering work through these grant awards.”

 

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